History of Smithfield, (Fayette County) Pennsylvania United States of America

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Biographies:

Henry Anson Buttz, educator, was born at Middle Smithfield, Pa., April 18, 1835. He was graduated from the College of New Jersey, Princeton, in 1858. He took a course in theology at the New Brunswick seminary, and was admitted to the ministry in the Newark conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, where he fulfilled appointments in a number of cities until 1870. He was tutor and adjunct professor of Greek and Hebrew in Drew theological seminary, 1868-70; Cobb professor of New Testament Greek and exegesis, 1870-80, and elected president of Drew theological seminary in 1880. Wesleyan university conferred on him the A.M. degree in 1866, and the College of New Jersey made him A.M. in 1861 and D.D. in 1875. From 1876 to 1879 he edited the epistles to the Romans, in Greek (a comparison of texts). He has also published a remarkably fine edition of the Greek Testament.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John Henry Kinkead, governor of Nevada, was born in Smithfield, Pa., Dec. 10, 1826; son of James and Catherine (Bushey) Kinkead, and grandson of James Kinkead. His father, who was of Scotch descent, was a native of Chester county, Pa. His parents removed to Zanesville, Ohio, in 1829, and a few years later to Lancaster, where John Henry was educated in the Lancaster high school. He removed to St. Louis, Mo., in 1844, and was a clerk in a dry-goods store until 1849, when he crossed the plains to Salt Lake City, Utah, where, with L M. Livingston, he established the mercantile firm of Livingston & Kinkead. In 1854 he removed to California, where he engaged in stock-raising. He was married at Marysville, Cal., in January, 1856, to Lizzie, daughter of John C. Fall, and engaged in mercantile business with Mr. Fall at Marysville, 1856-60, establishing a branch house at Carson City, Nev., in 1860. He was treasurer of Nevada Territory under Governor Nye's administration, 1862-65, and a member of the two constitutional conventions which met to erect a state organization. He was in Alaska, 1867-71, as a member of the government expedition under Col. J. C. Davis, and was the first U.S. official in the acquired territory holding civil office, having been appointed postmaster by President Johnson. He returned to Nevada in 1871, resided in Unionville until 1878, and engaged in smelting and mining. He founded the pioneer town of Washoe City; was an original projector of the Virginia and Truckee railroad, and built smelting works at Pleasant Valley and Austin. He was elected governor of Nevada and inaugurated Jan. 1, 1879, and on Jan. 1,1883, was succeeded by Jeweft W. Adams, elected by the Democratic party. In 1884, by act of congress passed May 17, Alaska was constituted a civil and judicial district, with a governor and other officers, and Mr. Kinkead was appointed the first territorial governor by President Arthur. At the close of the administration Governor Kinkead tendered his resignation and on May 9, 1885, O. P. Swineford was appointed by President Cleveland, and was inaugurated Sept. 15, 1885, when Mr. Kinkead returned to Carson City, Nev.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor